Lanny Leach of Tucson, Ariz., received mustang no. 3466, a gelding from Nevada, from the Bureau of Land Management in mid-February as the first step in the Norco Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge.

Leach is one of 39 specially selected horse trainers who have 90 days to gentle and train their assigned mustangs for the competition. Trainers from California, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Nevada and Arizona are participating in this event.

Trainers will compete for a part of the $10,000 purse at the Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge at “Horsetown USA,” Norco, Calif., on May 14-16. Judges will evaluate each horse and trainer on body condition, groundwork, and how the horse maneuvers through an obstacle “horse course,” which simulates trail and recreational riding situations. In addition, the trainers will be competing on actual trails in and around the town. The public will be invited to adopt one of the Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge animals on Sunday May 16.

The Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge is a spin-off of the highly successful Extreme Mustang Makeover. The Mustang Heritage Foundation in partnership with BLM created the events to highlight the value of American mustangs and showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the American West.

Wild horses and burros are managed in California in accordance with the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This act gave the Bureau of Land Management the responsibility to protect wild horses and burros while ensuring their populations are managed to maintain or restore a thriving ecological balance.

For more information, visit wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.

Editor and News Director Note: Members of the media are invited to follow the progress of the training with the permission of the individual trainers. Jeff Fontana, BLM public affairs, can provide contact information.